"I was a kid in the 1950s, and back then there were cars parking in the middle of Broad Street. My parents didn't own a car so it was not a part of South Philadelphia life that had impact on my life.

"But I knew then, and know now, that where I lived parking was always neighborhood -- not city government -- driven. I grew up on Wolf Street near Fifth, and there was no double parking on the street because there were no large commercial enterprises except for small grocery and candy stores at the corners. But on the 1400 block of Porter or the 1500 block of Shunk or the 1000 block of Wolf or on dozens of others streets, restaurants and bars on corners and mid-block drew customers with cars in the same way that Mummers attract glitter. And those cars had nowhere to park because South Philadelphia row houses had no garages.

"So those cars began double parking on the street. Then residents, not wanting to be blocked in, began doing the same thing and it has now become the norm."

The view down South Broad Street on Google Maps captures hundreds of vehicles parking on the median in June 2015:

Google Maps/Street View

View from the intersection of South Broad and Wharton Streets.

Google Maps/Street View

View from the intersection of South Broad and Reed Streets.

Google Maps/Street View

View from the intersection of South Broad and Tasker Streets.

Owners of towed vehicles are advised to call (215) 686-SNOW to locate their vehicle.